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“Can’t your partner handle it?” Hank asked.
“No.” Travis shook his head. “It’s something I’ve got to do myself.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got to get to the airport as soon as possible.”
“I’ll give you a ride, Trav,” Cade volunteered. “At least we can visit awhile.”
Travis nodded. “Thanks, Cade.” He turned to Hank. “I’m sorry I have to cut this short. I promise to be back soon. Next time maybe I can stay longer.”
Hank’s eyes misted as he stood. “I’m gonna hold you to it, son.” He hugged Travis.
Travis said his goodbyes to the rest of the family, then went upstairs to retrieve his bag. Cade headed outside and waited by the ranch truck. A few minutes later Travis came rushing out the door, along with Ella carrying a straw cowboy hat. “Cade, on your way back would you stop by the Moreau ranch and drop off this hat? Brandon left it here last night.”
No way was he going near that place. Tom Moreau would probably shoot him on sight. “The kid probably has a lot of hats. He’ll never miss it.”
“He’ll miss this one, though. His granddad gave it to him on his birthday—right before he died. Brandon never goes anywhere without it.”
“Tom Moreau died?”
Ella nodded. “About six months ago. Cancer. It’s been rough on Abby and that boy.” She shoved the hat at him. “Now there’s nothing there to scare you off. Or is there?”
Before Cade could answer, Ella hurried back into the house. “She’s got something up her sleeve, and I don’t like it,” he muttered as he and Travis climbed into the cab.
Cade started the engine and took off down the road toward the highway. He glanced across the cab. “I hope there aren’t any problems,” he said, trying to get his brother talking.
His brother jerked his head around. “What?”
“I said, I hope there aren’t any problems with your company.”
Travis shrugged. “There’re always problems.”
Cade didn’t like the sound of that. “Want to talk about it?”
Travis glared at him as he rested one booted foot across the other knee. “I’m not a kid anymore, Cade,” he grumbled.
“Whoa there.” Cade held up a hand. “I was only offering some help. If you don’t want to talk, fine. I’ll butt out. I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you need me.”
“I don’t think you would say that if you knew… Never mind.” Travis head jerked to the side window.
Cade didn’t want to “never mind.” He had a strong feeling his brother was in trouble. “So you’re going to be too stubborn to ask for help?”
Travis released a long sigh. “Hell, I can ask for all the help in the world, but it isn’t going to bail me out of this.”
Cade knew he couldn’t force Travis to talk about it, and the rest of the trip passed in silence. When they arrived at the airport, Travis was practically out of the truck before it stopped. But Cade had to give it one more try. Opening the door, he stood and rested his arm on the door frame. “Hey, Trav, call me if you need anything.”
Duffel bag in hand, Travis turned back to him and shook his head. “No, I don’t want the family involved in this.”
He looked so sad, so alone, Cade nearly went after him. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.” He prayed his words were true. “Please, Trav, let me help.”
They looked at each other for a long time. “It’s bad. Just like it was with dad,” Travis said, then disappeared through the terminal entrance.
Cade knew the way to the Moreau ranch blindfolded. Not that he was ever allowed on the property, but he’d ridden by on horseback so many times he’d lost count. He’d always been hoping to catch a glimpse of Abby.
Cade drove the truck under the wrought-iron arch-way that read “Moreau Cattle Ranch.” He knew it had been one of the biggest operations in the area. Tom Moreau had other businesses besides cattle. He owned sheep and several pecan orchards, plus a few other properties.
No wonder the man hadn’t wanted his daughter to hook up with the likes of him—a Randell. If only he’d given Cade a few years to prove himself. But Abby hadn’t been willing to wait around for that, either.
Cade caught sight of the large brick home with its white wood columns along the porch supporting a second-story balcony. He parked the truck and grabbed the cowboy hat off the seat and climbed out. Maybe if he just left it by the door someone would find it.
Quit acting like a coward, he told himself. You don’t have to sneak around anymore.
As he approached the house, he noticed the peeling paint on the porch and shutters. He turned toward the other buildings. They could all use a fresh coat of paint. To his surprise, no one had come out to ask what he was doing on Moreau property.
He shook his head. No, this wasn’t his business, he told himself as he marched up to the porch and rang the bell. He was just going to drop off the hat and leave. But his plans changed when the door opened and a heavyset woman clutched his arm and tugged him inside.
“It’s about time you got here,” she scolded. “Ms. Abby has been waiting for you. Now go into the study and wait.” She motioned him into a room that Cade realized must have been Tom Moreau’s study.
Cade grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He glanced at the portrait of the powerful rancher that hung above the used-brick fireplace. “Never could get over yourself, could you, Tom?”
It had taken Cade a long time, but men like Tom Moreau no longer intimidated him. He’d learned the hard way that if you had money, you had power, and you could play with the big boys.
Cade wandered over to the desk, the only place in the room that wasn’t in order. Curiosity got the better of him, and he glanced at some of the papers. Overdue bills seemed to make up one stack. On a notepad was the name Ted Javor, Accountant.
“What are you doing here?”
Cade refused to look guilty when he turned around.
At the sight of Abby, he found he had trouble concentrating for other reasons. Her hair was pulled behind her ears, her face devoid of makeup, and he could see the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. A pair of worn jeans covered her long slender legs and cupped her shapely hips. Her fitted white blouse showed off more than a hint of her full breasts. Damn, Abby Moreau, you definitely filled out.
“I was invited in,” he said. “In fact, your housekeeper practically pushed me in here.”
Abby looked unconvinced. “Carmen let you in? That’s hard to believe.”
“You can believe what you want. I’m only here because your son left this at the party.” He held out the cowboy hat.
“Oh,” she said, and some of the fire died from her eyes. She took it from him. “Well, thank you for bringing it by.” She folded her arms across her chest as if refusing to offer him any neighbourly niceties.
“Look, Cade, I’m too busy to stop and try to make small talk. You don’t want to do that with me any more than I do with you. You made that clear last night.” To his surprise she turned to leave.
“That wasn’t always true,” he said. “It was your decision…years ago.”
Her eyes flashed again. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Cade knew he’d pushed too hard. “Wait, Abby. That was uncalled for. What I wanted to say is that I’m sorry about your daddy. I just heard about his passing.”
Abby didn’t need to deal with Cade Randell today, or ever. The man she saw last night and again this morning held no resemblance to the man she’d known so long ago. There was a hard edge to this Cade. He had the look of someone you didn’t want to cross. If he ever discovered the truth… Thank goodness the foreman had taken Brandon along on his errands.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Are you and Brandon getting along okay?”
Abby stared at him, surprised that he seemed concerned. “We’re fine.”
“I mean since the divorce and all. This is a big ranch for you to run by yourself.”
She didn’t want to discuss her problems with him. “I have help here,” she lied. Most of the ranch hands were gone now. All she could afford to keep on was Charlie and his wife, Carmen. Carmen said Abby and Brandon needed her, and she couldn’t leave without her husband anyway.
“I couldn’t help but notice the place seems deserted,” Cade said. His dark gaze bore into hers until she had to look away.
“My father was downsizing the cattle operation the last few years.” That was all she was going to admit to the man. “Look, Cade, I really am busy. I’m expecting someone.”
“An accountant?” he said.
She froze. “How did you know?”
“I expect your housekeeper thought I was him. She didn’t give me a chance to tell her any differently, and then I couldn’t help noticing what was on the desk. And Ted Javor’s name on the notepad.” He tossed her a grin, and for a second he reminded her of the boy she once knew. Feeling warmth spread through her, she realized her body was remembering, too.
Oh, God. She couldn’t do this. “Thanks again for bringing the hat by.” She walked to the door, hoping Cade would follow. He did, but stopped in the doorway and leaned toward her. He was close enough that she could see he had nicked himself shaving. Slowly her gaze raised to his, finding the golden flecks in the dark depths of his eyes, framed with long black lashes.
“If you’re having a rough time, Abby, I might be able to help. I’m a financial adviser.”
She stiffened. “I’m fine. And I’m more than capable of running the ranch.”
He started to say something, but nodded, instead. “Goodbye, Abby. I won’t bother you again.” He walked out, and she prayed that he was telling her the truth, because she didn’t think she could handle seeing Cade Randell again.
Back at the Circle B by early afternoon, Cade parked the truck outside the corral with plans of opening a beer and sitting around being lazy the rest of the day. Hell, it was his vacation. The first he’d taken in years. He didn’t need any more headaches from his brother or a woman from the past.
As he started for the house, he heard hollering from the barn and decided to see what all the commotion was about. Inside he found Chance and Hank by a stall, eyeing the latest addition to the ranch. A new chestnut filly.
Cade came closer and to his surprise he found Brandon Garson standing alongside Hank. For the first time Cade had a chance to see Brandon when the boy wasn’t scowling. He was a good-looking kid with dark wavy hair and big brown eyes. Maybe a little on the thin side. Cade smiled. Something about Brandon reminded him of Travis.
“Cade, you missed it,” Hank said. “Lady dropped her foal just after you left this morning.”
“I can see that.” He stepped closer to the stall and noticed Brandon move back. Was the boy afraid of him? He remembered what Chance had said about Joel’s treatment of Abby. Had he mistreated the boy, as well? Cade tensed, recalling his own daddy’s free-swinging backhand. It had taken a long time for Cade to trust other adults. He wasn’t sure why, but it was important he get Brandon to trust him.
“Brandon, she’s pretty cool, huh?” Cade asked.
The boy remained silent.
That didn’t stop Cade. “If I’d known you were going to stop by, I wouldn’t have taken your hat to your house.”
Brandon finally looked at Cade. “My hat?”
“Yes, Ella found it and said it was real special because your granddad gave it to you. So I ran it over to your place.”
The boy’s dark eyes turned hostile. “Did you see my mom?”
“Yeah, but she was too busy to talk.” He shrugged. “So I left.”
“Oh,” was all Brandon said.
Cade wasn’t getting very far. He turned to Hank. “What are you going to name the foal?”
“Not sure,” Hank said as he took off his hat and scratched his head. “I’ve named so many over the years I think I’ve run out.”
Cade studied the new filly. “What about you, Brandon? You got any ideas you can give Hank and Chance?”
“I don’t know.” The boy shrugged his narrow shoulders. Then he glanced up at the men towering over him, his eyes bright. “Maybe you could call her Princess Star. Princess for what Chance always calls his little girl and because the foal has a star on her forehead.” The boy immediately ducked his head and peeked back at the horses.
Cade watched as Hank and Chance exchanged a smile. “Hey, Brandon,” Chance said. “I think that’s a mighty fine name. When Katie gets a little older, I bet she’ll like it, too.”
“Then it’s okay?” the boy asked.
“It’s more than okay,” Hank agreed. “It’s great.”
Brandon’s face broke into a grin as Hank ruffled his hair. Something tightened in Cade’s chest as he watched the happy exchange. He found he wanted to get the same reaction from the boy.
The group broke up as the men started off toward corral. The Moreau-ranch foreman, Charlie, instructed Brandon to stay close to the stall.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Cade offered.
When they were alone, Cade still kept his distance. He knew that he and the boy had gotten off on the wrong foot, and he needed to set him straight about a few things. “You know, Brandon, I used to go to school with your mom.”
The boy didn’t react.
“In fact, I had a crush on her. I thought she was the prettiest girl in school.”
“She’s still pretty,” Brandon said.
Cade smiled. “Yes, she is.” He knelt down on one knee next to the child. “And I want you to know I would never do anything to hurt her. I was wrong to grab her arm last night. And I told her today I was sorry.”
Brandon still didn’t look at him. “My dad used to say he was sorry a lot. But he didn’t mean it.”
Cade tried to remain calm. If he ever got his hands on Joel Garson… “Well, I’m not like your dad. Hank raised me to respect women. That’s the reason when I got out of line last night, I apologized to your mom. But I swear I have never ever hit a woman. Only cowards do that.”
Brandon turned to him, his eyes guarded as they examined him closely. “Did you really live here?”
“Yeah, after my daddy went…away.”
“My grandpa said your daddy rustled cattle and went to prison. And you and your brothers were no good, either.”
Why would Tom Moreau be talking about his family? “Just because your daddy did bad things, does that mean you will, too?”
Brandon shook his head. “No.”
“Well, it’s the same with me. I went to college and then got a good job in Chicago. And I guarantee you I never rustled any cattle.”
The boy finally smiled, showing off the space from a missing front tooth. “Do you have a ranch there?”
“No, no ranches there, but I have a house. Chicago is a big city. I work on the twenty-seventh floor of a very tall building.
